Águas de Portugal selects Bentley’s water technology

Águas de Portugal (AdP) Group, a Portugal-based company providing water and wastewater services, has selected US-based Bentley Systems’ water software technologies to better operate and manage its water and wastewater systems.

AdP serves 80% of the nation’s population through its water and wastewater collection and treatment systems, and via its water supply networks, and is expecting to use Bentley’s water software technology to improve its water infrastructure performance to comply with European best practices.

The company is also anticipating the software will reduce energy consumption at one of its companies and save around €160,000.

AdP’s subsidiary company, Saneamento Integrado dos Municípios do Tejo e Trancão (SimTejo), along with Hidromod, has developed the AQUASAFE platform to operate multi-municipal sanitation systems for the metropolitan regions of Lisbon.

SimTejo is using Bentley’s SewerGEMS for wastewater collection analysis and design, and its WaterObjects.NET technology for the management of combined sewer overflows.

The AQUASAFE platform has automated execution and updates the company with real-time data and weather forecasts.

SimTejo R&D project manager Pedro Povoa said the AQUASAFE system detects and alerts abnormal behaviours on flow meters every 15 minutes.

"In addition to producing an accurate combined-system overflow and estuary discharge report in five seconds, the new system is expected to achieve 2% energy reductions by improving the efficiency of 90 pumping stations," Povoa added.

"Given that in 2011 the cost of energy for pumping reached almost €8m, this energy reduction represents an annual savings of about €160,000."

Bentley geospatial and utilities global marketing director Richard Zambuni said the company’s water software tools will help water and wastewater operators in making better operational decisions.

"Such tools include the powerful WaterObjects.NET technology, which was used in this project to develop the AQUASAFE platform customized to SimTejo’s specific needs," Zambuni said.

AdP Group’s Adp Serviços company has selected Bentley’s HAMMER technology for risk assessment capabilities; Águas de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro opted for Bentley’s WaterGEMS and SCADAConnect module to conduct water quality simulations and optimise operations to improve energy efficiency.

---

Image: Águas de Portugal is using Bentley’s water software technologies to improve its water and wastewater services. Photo: Roger McLassus.